Rutgers vs IU: The B1G says thanks for showing up as IU goes down 5-2 to end any chance of a tournament championship.....

[ptrich]

The start of this game has been delayed after the MIchigan/Illinois game went into extra innings with Illinois winning 6-5 in 10 inns.


LHP Ryan Kraft is on the mound with Stadler behind the plate. Kraft has an ERA of 4.18 and a WHIP of 1.29 in 56.0 IP. He has 74 Ks to 18 BBs and an OBA of .214.

The batting order is Moore, Taylor, Dickerson, Hanley, Denny (DH), Malamazian, Wiggins, Cerny, and Stadler.

The Scarlet Knights will counter with RHP Landon Mack with an ERA of 4.36 and a WHIP of 1.25 in 74.1 IP. He has 64 Ks to 17 BBs and an OBA .269.

It's 54 degrees as I post this and cloudy. It's windy with the wind WNW at 16 mph and gusts to 30 mph.

T1st:

Kraft got the leadoff hitter on a flyout to start the game.

Moore Kd swinging to lead off, and Taylor followed with another K. A flyout by Dickerson ended the inning.

End of 1st: IU 0 RU 0

 

[ptrich]

T2nd:

Kraft faced the 6 thru 8 hitters. The leadoff hitter reached on an error by Malamazian where he bobbled the ball and never got a throw off.

A DP ball emptied the bases and two outs. A flyout retired the side.

B2nd:

It was the middle of the order up with Hanley leading off and he Kd with three of the first four batters going down on Ks.

Denny flied out for the 2nd out. Malamazian hit a triple off the CF wall to put a runner at 3rd and two outs.
The Rutgers center fielder was shaken up on the play with either an arm or shoulder injury.

Wiggins grounded out to end the inning.

End of 2nd: IU 0 RU 0

 

[ptrich]

T3rd:

Kraft faced the 9 thru 2 hitters and the leadoff hitter reached on a bunt single.

A FC got the runner at 2nd for one out. A flyout got the 2nd out with the runner still at 1st. Another FC retired the side.

B3rd:

It was the 8 thru 1 hitters up with Cerny leading off and he grounded out. Stadler was hit by a pitch to put a runner on with one out and the top of the order up in Moore.

Moore singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd and one out.

Taylor flied out for the 2nd out with the runners holding at 1st and 2nd. Dickerson grounded out to end the inning.

End of 3rd: IU 0 RU 0

 

[ptrich]

T4th:

Kraft faced the middle of the order. Kraft who has given up several extra base hits this season, gave up a solo homer to the leadoff hitter who was the replacement for the injured Rutgers outfielder earlier.

A groundout and flyout got two outs. A K retired the side.

B4th:

It's the middle of the order up with Hanley leading off. A fly ball was caught after two fielders ran into each other for the first out.

Denny was hit by a pitch to put a runner on with one out. Denny stole 2nd to put a runner in scoring position with one out.

Malamazian Kd on a high pitch for the 2nd out. Wiggins took a K looking to end the inning.

End of 4th: RU 1 IU 0

 

[ptrich]

T5th:

Kraft faced the 8 thru 1 hitters and he put them down in order.

B5th:

It's the 8 thru 1 hitters up with Cerny leading off. IU has done almost zilch at the plate outside of a two-out triple and a singe. Lose this game and IU's season is pretty much over with outside of the game with Iowa on Friday which would be meaningless.

Cerny singled to lead off. Stadler moved Cerny to 2nd on a SAC bunt with one out.

Cerny got himself picked off at 2nd for the 2nd out and no one on, and IU challenged the call. The way this game is flowing, a veteran player like Cerny can't allow himself to get picked off like that.

An error allowed Moore to reach with two outs and Taylor up.

Taylor singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. Dickerson's slump during the Michigan series has carried over to this game as he grounded out to end the inning and the scoring threat. Cerny allowing himself to get picked off at 2nd really hurt IU in this inning.

End of 5th: RU 1 IU 0

 

[ptrich]

T6th:

Kraft faced the 2 thru 4 hitters. We are getting great pitching but the hitting is in a lull which was my main concern noted going into the tournament.

A leadoff homer made it 2-0 and with IU doing nothing against the Rutgers starter to speak of, we may be seeing the de facto end of IU's season if they don't wake up at the plate.

After the solo homer, Kraft put them down in order to retire the side.

B6th:

With the middle of the order up, Hanley singled to lead off. A great play by the 2nd baseman robbed Denny of a single, but it moved Hanley to 2nd with one out.

Malamazian Kd for the 2nd out. The Rutgers starter is at 90 pitches right now as he has dominated IU hitters for the most part.

Brenczewski came in to pinch hit for Wiggins. Nothing is going IU's way at the plate as Brenczewski grounded out to end the inning. Both teams have five hits but the two homers by Rutgers looks like a huge climb for IU since they are doing nothing at the plate.

End of 6th: RU 2 IU 0

 

[hickorytree1]

T5th:

Kraft faced the 8 thru 1 hitters and he put them down in order.

B5th:

It's the 8 thru 1 hitters up with Cerny leading off. IU has done almost zilch at the plate outside of a two-out triple and a singe. Lose this game and IU's season is pretty much over with outside of the game with Iowa on Friday which would be meaningless.

Cerny singled to lead off. Stadler moved Cerny to 2nd on a SAC bunt with one out.

Cerny got himself picked off at 2nd for the 2nd out and no one on, and IU challenged the call. The way this game is flowing, a veteran player like Cerny can't allow himself to get picked off like that.

An error allowed Moore to reach with two outs and Taylor up.

Taylor singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. Dickerson's slump during the Michigan series has carried over to this game as he grounded out to end the inning and the scoring threat. Cerny allowing himself to get picked off at 2nd really hurt IU in this inning.

End of 5th: RU 1 IU 0

Very frustrating team to watch, as they continue to squander opportunities.

 

[ptrich]

T7th:

Kraft faced the 6 thru 8 hitters and gave up a leadoff single. A SAC bunt moved the runner to 2nd with one out. A groundout got the 2nd out with the runner taking 3rd. A shallow blooper to CF scored another run with the outfielders not being able to get to it before it dropped.

Mercer went to the bullpen and brought in RHP Gavin Seebold with an ERA of 7.43 and a WHIP of 1.58 in 53.1 IP.

A two-run homer gave Rutgers a 5-0 lead with all runs coming off three homers. Rutgers had just 40 homers on the season coming into this game with IU more than doubling that, but that doesn't matter today.

A two-out single put a runner on, but a groundout retired the inning that probably dug IU's grave in this game.

B7th:

It was the 8 thru 1 hitters up with Cerny leading off. A K, a flyout, a single, and a K ended another miserable inning for IU.

End of 7th: RU 5 IU 0

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Wheels coming off

 

[Courtsensetwo]

Not sure why this tournament is held in Omaha

 

[ptrich]

T8th:

Rutgers went down in order.

B8th:

It was the 3 thru 5 hitters up and Dickerson grounded out in a play that was challenged by IU but the play was upheld. With the way this game has flowed was there any doubt the call would be upheld, and IU was out of challenges which really didn't matter at this point.

Hanley singled with one out. Denny singled to put runners at 1st and 2nd with one out.

Malamazian singled to load the bases with one out, and IU is showing signs of life at the plate.

Koskie reached on a FC got Hanley at the plate for two outs and the bases still loaded. Cerny Kd which is indicative of what a lousy game this has been from an offensive standpoint. IU couldn't even plate one run with the bases loaded and one out.

End of 8th: RU 5 IU 0

 

[ptrich]

T9th:

It's the bottom of the order up with Seebold finishing out the game and he put them down in order.

B9th:

It was the 9 thru 2 hitters up for IU with Stadler leading off and IU is for all intents and purposes looking at the end of their season. What a sorry offensive output today along with a mental gaffe that killed a possible big scoring inning.

Stadler grounded out and Moore was hit by a pitch to put a runner on. A two-run homer by Taylor made it 5-2 but Dickerson Kd and Hanley grounded out to end the game.

Final: RU 5 IU 2

 

[ptrich]

Rutgers won this game with all five runs coming on three homers. Rutgers was the in last place in the B1G in homers hit with just 40 on the season, while IU was 3rd with 88 homers, but you couldn't tell that today. I'm certainly no prophet and you could see this coming a mile away, but here is a quote from me in a post the other day about how this team was finishing out the regular season.

Quote: "Our pitching has been really looking up over the latter part of the season which obviously is a good sign going into the tournament. My primary concern is our hitting which seems to go into a lull far too often and in the same game. Hopefully, we can get both in synch together and make a run for the tournament championship which is the only hope we have to reach the Field of 64." unquote.

I don't want to pick on Dickerson since this game was a team effort at the plate, but he couldn't have picked a worse time to go into a major slump at the plate and counting the three-game Michigan series plus the game today (0-5), he went 1 for 19 to finish the season with a meaningless game left with Iowa on Friday. We really needed his hot bat today and it just wasn't there. Cerny getting picked off 2nd killed what could have been a big inning for us which really killed momentum in this game. It's more than those two, but those were areas that really stood out to me in this game.

It stinks that you lose the opening game of the pod system and you are out. By going to the pod system, the B1G has eliminated the chance of coming out of a loser's bracket to have a chance for a championship. We have just a participation game left and you are off to clean out your locker at home if they haven't already done that, and I really think that the team doesn't want to play that game with nothing really on the line.

I'm not going to go over the stats since this game essentially ended the season, but here is the box score link from the stats site since I haven't been able to find a box score elsewhere right now.

StatBroadcast Live Stat Feed

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Rutgers won this game with all five runs coming on three homers. Rutgers was the in last place in the B1G in homers hit with just 40 on the season, while IU was 3rd with 88 homers, but you couldn't tell that today. I'm certainly no prophet and you could see this coming a mile away, but here is a quote from me in a post the other day about how this team was finishing out the regular season.

Quote: "Our pitching has been really looking up over the latter part of the season which obviously is a good sign going into the tournament. My primary concern is our hitting which seems to go into a lull far too often and in the same game. Hopefully, we can get both in synch together and make a run for the tournament championship which is the only hope we have to reach the Field of 64." unquote.

I don't want to pick on Dickerson since this game was a team effort at the plate, but he couldn't have picked a worse time to go into a major slump at the plate and counting the three-game Michigan series plus the game today (0-5), he went 1 for 19 to finish the season with a meaningless game left with Iowa on Friday. We really needed his hot bat today and it just wasn't there. Cerny getting picked off 2nd killed what could have been a big inning for us which really killed momentum in this game. It's more than those two, but those were areas that really stood out to me in this game.

It stinks that you lose the opening game of the pod system and you are out. By going to the pod system, the B1G has eliminated the chance of coming out of a loser's bracket to have a chance for a championship. We have just a participation game left and you are off to clean out your locker at home if they haven't already done that, and I really think that the team doesn't want to play that game with nothing really on the line.

I'm not going to go over the stats since this game essentially ended the season, but here is the box score link from the stats site since I haven't been able to find a box score elsewhere right now.

StatBroadcast Live Stat Feed

While I’m not optimistic that this will happen, we’re not truly eliminated until either we lose to Iowa or Rutgers wins vs Iowa. Right?

 

[Charlesroast]

While I’m not optimistic that this will happen, we’re not truly eliminated until either we lose to Iowa or Rutgers wins vs Iowa. Right?

Wrong. If all teams in a pod go 1-1 highest seed advances.

 

[Charlesroast]

Rutgers won this game with all five runs coming on three homers. Rutgers was the in last place in the B1G in homers hit with just 40 on the season, while IU was 3rd with 88 homers, but you couldn't tell that today. I'm certainly no prophet and you could see this coming a mile away, but here is a quote from me in a post the other day about how this team was finishing out the regular season.

Quote: "Our pitching has been really looking up over the latter part of the season which obviously is a good sign going into the tournament. My primary concern is our hitting which seems to go into a lull far too often and in the same game. Hopefully, we can get both in synch together and make a run for the tournament championship which is the only hope we have to reach the Field of 64." unquote.

I don't want to pick on Dickerson since this game was a team effort at the plate, but he couldn't have picked a worse time to go into a major slump at the plate and counting the three-game Michigan series plus the game today (0-5), he went 1 for 19 to finish the season with a meaningless game left with Iowa on Friday. We really needed his hot bat today and it just wasn't there. Cerny getting picked off 2nd killed what could have been a big inning for us which really killed momentum in this game. It's more than those two, but those were areas that really stood out to me in this game.

It stinks that you lose the opening game of the pod system and you are out. By going to the pod system, the B1G has eliminated the chance of coming out of a loser's bracket to have a chance for a championship. We have just a participation game left and you are off to clean out your locker at home if they haven't already done that, and I really think that the team doesn't want to play that game with nothing really on the line.

I'm not going to go over the stats since this game essentially ended the season, but here is the box score link from the stats site since I haven't been able to find a box score elsewhere right now.

StatBroadcast Live Stat Feed

I feel bad for Ryan Kraft he has given all he had in his time at IU. Otherwise this was a fitting ending to a very disappointing season. Thanks for your efforts.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Wrong. If all teams in a pod go 1-1 highest seed advances.

EDIT: what I posted below was was Google Gemini said but I read the Big Ten website just now and see that you’re correct.

This was shared with me last weekend:

1. Head-to-Head Record:

Teams with the same record are first compared based on their record against each other.

2. Score Differential:

If head-to-head records don't break the tie, the score differential (total runs scored minus total runs allowed) is used. The team with the highest differential is ranked higher.

3. Runs Allowed:

If the score differential is also tied, the total runs allowed is compared. The team with the fewest runs allowed is ranked higher.

4. Runs Scored:

If runs allowed are also tied, the total runs scored is compared. The team with the most runs scored is ranked higher.

 

[Bligedy]

Wrong. If all teams in a pod go 1-1 highest seed advances.

Goofy format.

 

[ptrich]

EDIT: what I posted below was was Google Gemini said but I read the Big Ten website just now and see that you’re correct.

This was shared with me last weekend:

1. Head-to-Head Record:

Teams with the same record are first compared based on their record against each other.

2. Score Differential:

If head-to-head records don't break the tie, the score differential (total runs scored minus total runs allowed) is used. The team with the highest differential is ranked higher.

3. Runs Allowed:

If the score differential is also tied, the total runs allowed is compared. The team with the fewest runs allowed is ranked higher.

4. Runs Scored:

If runs allowed are also tied, the total runs scored is compared. The team with the most runs scored is ranked higher.

Everything I heard leading up to this game was that it was over with if we lost just one game in the pod. But I guess there is a chance we could get out of the pod. I still have no faith that is going to happen.

 

[ptrich]

Everything I heard leading up to this game was that it was over with if we lost just one game in the pod. But I guess there is a chance we could get out of the pod. I still have no faith that is going to happen.

The game article at the IU site says there is no way for IU to advance out of Pool C and that the Iowa game would be it for them on Friday. The broadcast of the game kept calling today's game an "elimination game", so I don't know really how this thing is structured. Here's the link:

Tuesday Defeat in Omaha - Indiana University Athletics

OMAHA, Neb. – When the opportunity presented itself, the Indiana Baseball team (31-24) couldn't find the clutch hit it needed. The Hoosiers stranded runners ...

iuhoosiers.com

 

[rcaulfie]

Thank God this IU baseball season is about done. Most disappointing season that I can remember since I started really following them. And figures, it was the first time I got season tickets. I was really excited for the season to start. I won't make that mistake again.....

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Thank God this IU baseball season is about done. Most disappointing season that I can remember since I started really following them. And figures, it was the first time I got season tickets. I was really excited for the season to start. I won't make that mistake again.....

I had season tickets and didn't go to a single game.

 

[ptrich]

Thank God this IU baseball season is about done. Most disappointing season that I can remember since I started really following them. And figures, it was the first time I got season tickets. I was really excited for the season to start. I won't make that mistake again.....

They finished the regular season with over 30 games won and also a winning conference record, but this had to be one of the most inconsistent teams that Mercer has had; to the extent you just never knew which team was going to show up. The hitting or lack of hitting seemed to be contagious up and down the batting order and it was enough to make one want to pull their hair out. It was a very frustrating season.

 

[Mas-sa-suta]

They finished the regular season with over 30 games won and also a winning conference record, but this had to be one of the most inconsistent teams that Mercer has had; to the extent you just never knew which team was going to show up. The hitting or lack of hitting seemed to be contagious up and down the batting order and it was enough to make one want to pull their hair out. It was a very frustrating season.

This doesn't surprise me.
Not to belabor my point, but this bunch seemed to lack leadership and a sense of purpose. The errors, walks and undisciplined baserunning cut the legs out from under this season. Ptrich already called attention to the continued failure to advance the runner and get the runner at 3rd base in